The Illustrated London News 17 October 1846
Another instance of the utility of the electric telegraph in detecting crime was afforded on Saturday last at Rugby. The following telegraphic despatch was received at the Rugby station from Derby at eight o’clock on Saturday morning :—” Thomas Trotter, from Derby, states that he has been robbed by a man that slept in the same room with him at Derby last night of a silver watch (described), and £3 19s. in gold and silver.” (Here follows a description of the party suspected, but as he, as well as the property missing, is in the hands of the police, it is unnecessary to give it.)

The despatch goes on to state that ” the person who committed the theft is supposed to have gone towards London.” In consequence of this communication, Inspector Faulkner, in the employ of the London and North Western Railway Company examined the persons of the passengers who arrived by the next train (eleven A.M.) from Derby, when, from the description forwarded, he took the prisoner into custody on suspicion of having committed the robbery; and upon searching him, he found a watch, answering the description, and also a sum of money, exactly tallying with the amount stolen, minus the railway fare from Derby. Upon asking the prisoner his name, he said it was William Gilbert, but upon being taken before Mr. J. W. B. Leigh, Mr. H. S. Gibb, Mr. C. M. Caldecott, and Captain Leake, he gave the name of William Eltinton, and said that he came from Newcastle-on-Tyne. He had for some time been employed on the Midland Railway as a stoker. Mr. Trotter appeared about five o’clock in the afternoon, and identified the watch, &e., upon which the prisoner was transferred to the custody of one of the inspectors of the Midland Railway police, the robbery having been committed at Derby.

On Monday evening, he was taken before the magistrates at Derby, when the prosecutor again identified the property; where- upon the prisoner was committed to take his trial for the robbery. The Quarter Sessions being held the same day, before Mr. J. Balguy, the Recorder, a bill was preferred before the Grand Jury, who returned a “true bill.” The prisoner was then put upon his trial and convicted, when he was sentenced to six months’ hard labour. The learned Recorder, in passing sentence, made some excellent remarks upon the efficiency of the electric telegraphs in detecting offenders, and trusted that they would be universally adopted on railways.